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The Engagement 4Cast
At the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference earlier this month, we asked attendees one simple question:“What is your toughest technical challenge?” We had conversation with over 50 people, and the answers we got painted a vivid picture of the technology landscape that nonprofits are navigating in 2025. The themes that emerged show both the opportunities and the obstacles that our industry faces as we work to connect with donors, grow our audiences, and streamline our operations. Here are the major trends we saw—and how nonprofits can address them.
Technology is only as effective as the people using it. And while this is not a surprising insight, it was our biggest take away because it’s something we are guilty of overlooking in our own work. Several respondents pointed out “not having an in-house technical assistant,” “general anxiety,” and “getting clients to fully embrace tech solutions.” Others mentioned resistance to AI or difficulty learning new programming languages.
Even when the tools exist, nonprofits often don’t have the capacity to use them fully. Nonprofits are often stretched thin, managing more platforms and channels than ever. Attendees cited “choosing what to focus on,” “vendors deciding what we need,” and “keeping up with all the advancements.” This constant churn can leave teams chasing trends rather than building sustainable strategies.
A related challenge is simply trying to run organizations more smoothly. From “inefficient project tracking” to “volume of work” and “not enough time for data entry,” nonprofits are often bogged down in operational inefficiencies that keep the staff from being able to level up their skills and think more strategically.
Our take: It’s a good reminder that nonprofits need more than just tools—they need training, support, and user-friendly systems that meet staff where they are. Without buy-in, even the best solutions won’t deliver results.
Unsurprisingly, the most common conversations we had was around data. Responses like “too many systems that don’t talk to each other,” “manual data entry,” and “fragmented tech stack” highlight how scattered systems make it difficult to maintain clean, reliable information. Without proper integration, staff spend valuable time re-entering data instead of analyzing it to inform strategy. As one professional noted, even when using tools like Zapier or HubSpot integrations, syncing is inconsistent or incomplete.
Our take: Donors expect personalized and frictionless experiences. If your systems aren’t integrated, you risk errors, missed opportunities, and donor frustration. Solving this requires more than patching tools together—it requires a unified strategy for data management.
Many nonprofits feel constrained by the tools meant to empower them. We heard about the pain of legacy systems (“software companies that prioritize shareholder value at the expense of innovation”), lack of customization, and donation platforms that don’t actually support fundraising goals. Switching tools is a massive undertaking, and choosing the best platform can be challenging.
Our take: The right CRM or CMS should work for you, not against you. But many nonprofits are stuck with outdated or rigid tools. Getting the help of an outside vendor that has relevant expertise and does not have a vested interest in the outcome is critical to addressing this challenge. Agencies like ours help nonprofits bend these tools to their goals, while other consultants and agencies can help select the right platform for your unique needs.
Ultimately, most of these challenges tie back to one core mission: raising more support. Nonprofits mentioned issues with “donation form personalization,” “platforms for fundraising content,” and “audience segmentation.” Some struggle to reach younger donors through social media, while others balance this with an older donor base.
Our take: The donation experience is at the heart of nonprofit tech. If your forms are clunky, your emails irrelevant, or your digital presence fragmented, you’ll lose potential gifts. Investing in frictionless, personalized, and engaging donor experiences pays dividends in long-term support. Oh, and don’t forget to test!
Nonprofits don’t need more tools—they need the right tools, the right strategy, and a partner who understands how to make technology work for fundraising. Because when technology works, nonprofits can focus on what they do best: changing lives.
None of these challenges are insurmountable. At 4Site we specialize in helping nonprofits overcome these exact barriers through custom web development and donor experience design. Whether it’s integrating a fragmented tech stack, modernizing an outdated CRM, or designing donation flows that delight rather than frustrate, we help nonprofits turn technology from a source of stress into a driver of growth.
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